The Art Of War Quotes
"The art of war is of vital importance to the State."
"The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting."
"If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles."
"Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win."
"There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare."
"The greatest victory is that which requires no battle."
"To know your enemy, you must become your enemy."
"If equally matched, we can offer battle; if slightly inferior in numbers, we can avoid the enemy; if quite unequal in every way, we can flee from him."
"Hence, though an obstinate fight may be made by a small force, in the end it must be captured by the larger force."
"Now the general is the bulwark of the State; if the bulwark is complete at all points; the State will be strong; if the bulwark is defective, the State will be weak."
"There are three ways in which a ruler can bring misfortune upon his army."
"He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight."
"He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces."
"He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks."
"He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared."
"He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign."
"What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease."
"Hence his victories bring him neither reputation for wisdom nor credit for courage."
"Hence the skillful fighter puts himself into a position which makes defeat impossible, and does not miss the moment for defeating the enemy."
"Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory."
"The sight of men whispering together in small knots or speaking in subdued tones points to disaffection amongst the rank and file."
"Too frequent rewards signify that the enemy is at the end of his resources; too many punishments betray a condition of dire distress."
"To begin by bluster, but afterwards to take fright at the enemy's numbers, shows a supreme lack of intelligence."
"When envoys are sent with compliments in their mouths, it is a sign that the enemy wishes for a truce."
"He who exercises no forethought but makes light of his opponents is sure to be captured by them."
"If soldiers are punished before they have grown attached to you, they will not prove submissive; and, unless submissive, then will be practically useless."
"Therefore soldiers must be treated in the first instance with humanity, but kept under control by means of iron discipline."
"If a general shows confidence in his men but always insists on his orders being obeyed, the gain will be mutual."
"Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look upon them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death."